A Sacred Place
Lithuania & Poland with Rev. Fr. Michael Chua
Firstly, we would like to thank God for the gift of our Beloved Mother Mary, St. John Paul the Great, St. Faustina Kowalska, Bl. Michael Sopocko, Bl. Jerzy Popiełuszko, and all the holy saints and martyrs of Lithuania and Poland.
We also wish to extend our gratitude to Rev. Fr. Michael Chua for leading us as our spiritual director. Your love and wisdom are truly a gift to us pilgrims. And of course, to our beloved pilgrims who journeyed with us. Thank you for travelling with us as a community of faith.
This pilgrimage was a wonderful experience and an opportunity to encounter God in our own unique ways.
During our recent pilgrimage, we visited significant shrines of our Blessed Mother Mary, the Divine Mercy Devotion, and sites associated with St. John Paul the Great and other saints and martyrs.
Lithuania
Our journey began in Lithuania, where we delved into the lives of St. Faustina and Blessed Michael Sopocko. We traced the history of the original Divine Mercy painting, which underwent a remarkable journey. It was moved from place to place, lost and damaged for a period, but was eventually found and restored. The perseverance of Bl. Michael Sopocko in promoting the Divine Mercy devotion until his old age was truly admirable.
Warsaw
In Warsaw, we learned about Blessed Jerzy Popiełuszko. Following St. John Paul II's famous speech on freedom and solidarity, Blessed Jerzy became a prominent figure, boldly speaking out on freedom and ultimately paying the price with his life.
Krakow
As we approached Krakow, we visited shrines and significant places related to St. John Paul the Great. We discovered the influences that contributed to his greatness, from the profound influence of his prayerful father to the monastery he frequently visited and his home next to the church. These experiences and more shaped him into one of the greatest popes of our time. His message of love and responsibility attracts millions of people. Every time he returned to Krakow, thousands of young people would gather at the window of his room just to catch a glimpse and hear him speak.
Marian Shrines
An unexpected discovery of this pilgrimage was the profound Marian devotion evident throughout Lithuania and Poland. We visited numerous Marian shrines, including:
Chapel of Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn
Our Lady of Šiluva
Shrine of Our Lady Studzieniczańskiej
Monastery of Our Lady of Czestochowa
Church of Our Lady of Graces
Motherhouse of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy
Sanctuary of Our Lady of Kalwaria Zebrzydowska
We were struck by how deeply Mary is integrated into the lives of Lithuanians and Poles. Even the King of Poland, before leading the great Battle of Vienna, paid homage to Our Lady in Warsaw, underscoring Mary's significant impact.
Our Lady of Czestochowa
No visit to Poland is complete without paying respects to the Queen of Poland, Our Lady of Czestochowa. She is revered as the protector and mother of Poland, holding a special place in the hearts of the Polish people.
Holy saints and martyrs of Lithuania and Poland, pray for us!
Sanctum Pilgrimages
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Your Sincere,
Sanctum Pilgrimages
